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The
Church

Founded in Saxon times and mentioned in the
Domesday Book the present church with its sturdy Norman tower and
nave, largely dates from 1180.

The chancel, when lit, is of great beauty. Above
the altar is a fine Flemish painting showing the Adoration of the
Magi. Painted by Jan Mostaert in 1515 it was presented to the
church in 1793 by Benjamin White, the brother of Gilbert White. A
black slab on the floor commemorates his grandfather, Gilbert
White senior, vicar of the parish from 1681 to 1728. The
Elizabethan altar rails were brought to the church from St
Juliot's Church in Cornwall, whilst on the wall is a fine 16th
century Flemish wood carving showing the Descent from the Cross.

This information and picture
come from the pages written by
John Symonds for the Waterlooville's On-Line Parish Magazine. Link
here.

Box
Pews

The church once
contained box-pews, of a standard and condition described by
Gilbert White as ' . . . nothing can be more irregular
than the pews of this church which are of all dimensions and
heights, being patched up according to the fancy of the
owners.' See Pew
Renting

The six bells in the tower were recast in 1735.
Gilbert White recorded the event as follows. 'The
day of arrival of this tuneable peal was observed
as a high festival in the village and rendered more
joyous by an order from the donor that the treble
bell should be fixed bottom upward in the ground
and filled with punch, of which all present were
invited to partake.'

The church clock, with its
single hand, is one of the oldest in Hampshire,
dating from 1678.